About Mel

 

Personal

I was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1945 to Jewish parents and moved to Valley Stream, Long Island, New York in 1950 and did what Jewish boys are supposed to: I went to college (BA in economics, Hofstra University 1967, MA in economics, University of Maine, 1969), got married(1968), got a job(1969) and had 3.2 children (actually 3).

 

But my first marriage didn't quite work out as I planned and though at the time I thought studying economics and being an economist was a good idea it wasn't me. But, both those experiences led me to where I am today.

  

I divorced in 1985 and quit Wall Street (Senior Economist, New York Stock Exchange) in 1988 and started my full-time professional bridge career. I was married a second time (1993-2009) to my former partner, Janet. I have lived in Merrick, New York on Long Island about 20 miles east of Manhattan since 1977. I have three grown children, twin daughters Alison and Lauren and a son Russ. In 2010, Russ and his wife Liz gave me my first grandchildren, twins Nate and Abby.

 

Bridge Teacher/Professional Player

I’ve been teaching bridge full time since 1988 and recently I figured out that I have given almost 8,000 two-hour bridge lessons and played about 4,000 sessions of bridge with my students. I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.

I still maintain a full schedule of classes in the NYC tri-state area—based on Long Island. Small groups or large. Have Lesson, Will Travel.

I also play professionally with students at local clubs, and Regional and National Tournaments. Have Game, Will Travel.

 

Inquire: 516-378-7420

mcolch@optonline.net

 

 

Bridge Accomplishments

Ranking: Grand Life Master (ACBL’s highest)

Masterpoints: 15,600 ranking 155^th all-time.

Victories: Over 200 Regional and Sectional wins

 

National

 1^St in National Championship-- 2000 N American Swiss Team

 2^nd in National Championship—2000 National Mixed Team

                                                        2002National Senior KO

                                                        2003 National Senior KO                                                         2010 National Senior Swiss

 3^rd in National Championship—2004 National Senior KO

                                                        2006 National Senior KO    

5^th in National Championship— 1999 Spingold KO 

                                                       2001 US Team Trials

 

Local

LI Player of the Year—1996,1997,1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2008.

#1 masterpoint holder on LI (December 2006)—13, 200.

7-time Reisinger(NYC) KO Finalist(2 victories)  

 

5-time District 24 representative in National Grand National (North American) Pairs

 

Columnist/Author

“Claim With Colchamiro” column has appeared in the Nassau-Suffolk Bridge Association Islander consecutively since 1987 and in the monthly ACBL Bulletin consecutively since 2003.

 

7 articles in the prestigious The Bridge World Magazine

 

How To Play Like An Expert, 2007

 (Without Having To Be One)

 

Bridge Administration

President, District 24, 1980-1982

Member, Board of Directors, District 24, 1971-1984

National Hall of Fame Committee, member 2004-present